Sten Posted December 18, 2012 Report Posted December 18, 2012 Please help with bidding: New York, Manhattan. Preferable zones: Empire State Building area and Midtown West.Dates: February 2.-3. 2013 for one night.Star rating is not very important, I would like a clean place to sleep in. I would like to avoid unfavourable hotels (are there any in these zones?). Would prefer to stay under 100$, but since it is only one night, we could extend our budget for a notable step up in quality.We basically only have half day (flight arrives 4pm and leaves 1pm the next day). We would arrive and Grand Central Station, check in the hotel, then have a walk on Fifth Avenue and visit Empire State Building at the end of the day. Please recommend the bidding procedure and what price level could we expect?[OT: should we get the express tickets for Empire State Building at that time of the year and Saturday evening? Any idea on the waiting times? Some sites recommend not wasting time there for one day trip, but I think it would actually be a nice way to see some NYC landmarks with minimum time, provided the weather cooperates].
AaronJB Posted December 18, 2012 Report Posted December 18, 2012 Welcome to Betterbidding. :)I would like a clean place to sleep in. I would like to avoid unfavourable hotels (are there any in these zones?). Would prefer to stay under 100$, but since it is only one night, we could extend our budget for a notable step up in quality.Would you prefer to try to max out your budget to go for a 4* (although it may take a bit more than $100) or go for the most reasonable 3*?There is no way to avoid a particular hotel when bidding and there are some hotels that get mixed or negative reviews in each zone and there may be some hotels that are just not someone's cup-of-tea. When bidding, one has to be willing to stay at any hotel at the star rating chosen within the zone/s chosen (there is also the possibility of being upgraded to a higher star rating.) With HOTWIRE, one can make an educated guess (not guaranteed) at which hotels are showing, but HOTWIRE is generally moderately more expensive than PRICELINE.In terms of bidding on PRICELINE, would you be willing to stay at any hotel at the star rating chosen within the zone/s chosen?Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
Sten Posted December 19, 2012 Author Report Posted December 19, 2012 I am willing to go for a 4*What is the expected price level in that case, 110-120? How should I start my bidding?
thereuare Posted December 19, 2012 Report Posted December 19, 2012 Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your post above.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Sten Posted December 19, 2012 Author Report Posted December 19, 2012 I have clicked the links.So what could be the starting point?Empire State Building area 95$,then Empire + Midtown East 100$?And go up from there by 5 every day.
thereuare Posted December 20, 2012 Report Posted December 20, 2012 When bidding 4* in NYC you have SIX re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* MTW...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $83, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $88, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $83, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $88, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and MTW...Bid $93, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $98, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $108If the above is rejected HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the MTE for $109/nite (your price may differ slightly) with: Fitness Restaurant Business Hi-Speed Internet Blind Accessible Deaf Accessible Travel Accessible Room Accessible Bathroom Accessible Roll-in ShowerMy best guess for this one would be the Roosevelt and you can take this should the above PRICELINE bidding fail and this one works for your needs this trip.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Sten Posted December 21, 2012 Author Report Posted December 21, 2012 Apparently I can only enter USA and Canada as my locations, which means it cannot match my credit card address as it is in Estonia.Guess I have to stick with HOTWIRE.
Sten Posted December 21, 2012 Author Report Posted December 21, 2012 I gave up on PRICELINE with the credit card issue and booked the 4* Midtown East at HOTWIRE - it was indeed Roosevelt. My price was 105$, went to 107$ after requesting queen bed. I saw the reviews were not too good on that one, but there seemed to be even no 2* hotels with better price in the areas nearby so I went for it.HOTWIRE had a list of countries to choose from when entering credit card billing address. Although it was a long list, it did not feature Estonia either. I tried my luck by choosing Finland and apparently it was close enough - the booking was done.Thank you for your help!PS: With MTE/4* my 75$ bid was denied saying it is very unlikely to get such price. 77$ was first valid bid.
thereuare Posted December 22, 2012 Report Posted December 22, 2012 Congratulations on your success! While this is not (imo) the nicest 4* hotel in the city, i think it is likely MUCH better then what you could have gotten at most 2* hotels, and for the price, i'm sure it will be a relatively good value.You're also near my often recommended Ess-A-Bagel (Third Ave at 51st St) which has one of the best bagels in the city, makes for a nice, and relatively inexpensive, breakfast among local NYers.Thank you for sharing your win with the board. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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